Lindsay I am thinking of you, Scott and Layla today and am so sorry you all are having to go through this. I know you can do this and all are strong. I am praying for you and know what a fighter Layla is and what super, amazing parents she has. Use us all as a sound board to get through this time. You are in my thoughts and prayers today-xoxo

Im so sorry that you are all going through this, it really is terrible.
But Layla is a fighter and Im sure she will get better! You really are an amazing mom and Im sure she knows it.
I am sending love and prayers to all 3 of you that things get better for you soon.
Hoping you all have a wonderful christmas too

Lots of Love
Rachael & Poppy xxxxxx

Thank you guys so much. Thanks for the suggestions too, I will look into everything. She is not in any sort of cast, and I am not sure why but I guess maybe since she's not even used to wearing a collar, she might be so uncomfortable she'd struggle to get out of anything we put on her neck. I made her a rice sock for warmth on her neck and she didn't even like that.

I stayed home from work today too. Scott was still getting up during the night, and I could not stop shivering! I felt a little feverish and I've had a headache that hasn't gone away since last night. I need to take care of myself and my family right now, and work has been pushing me to take time off anyway.

I think Scott was much too sick to look after Layla this morning. All I could get from him was a grunt. So I brought Layla downstairs, expressed her, made her breakfast, held the plate so she could eat off it, gave her the anti-inflammatory, and took us back to bed.

When I woke up, about 10 minutes ago, I looked down at her and she's not in her bed, but on my bath robe that I left on the floor right in front. She's laying on her side which she hasn't done since her neck problems started. I went down and petted her, and she was totally relaxed and not trembling at all.

I know I just need to take this a little bit at a time and for now, she's either stable or improving and that's great news. Last time she kept going down, down, down, constantly. Today I can be a little more positive.

I'm glad you stayed home. I hope you don't get completely down with whatever it is. And you're right! Take only one day at at time! I hope she is better and better. I know it was good to see her relaxed like that.:)

I am so sad that Layla you and Scott have to deal with this new disc problem after all you have been through. I read thru all the posts and was so sad to hear you refer to yourself as a bad mother. You and Scott have tried so hard to be the best caretakers you can possibly be. Layla is lucky to have such kind, loving and devoted parents. Many people would have given up but even during the darkest times you picked yourself up and found the courage to go on. I saw the love and licks that Layla showed in the videos and read it in all your posts. You have raised a loving and happy dog in spite of difficult times. You and Scott are what matter to her. She drags herself to just be near your scent what a comfort you must be to her. She knows you love her. I wish I could send you strength to get through this. Just know that the greatest thing anyone can do is to take care of those in need. To be there in the bad times not just the good times. You and Scott are golden in my world. I hope you all feel better soon.

Thank you. We are all at work today and I let the coworkers around me know that Layla is not doing so well so she can not get excited. She's in her stroller right beside me, with a blanket and a rice sock. She's resting well here but got a little excited in the car.

I'm worried about being here today because it is snowing bad! There was pretty much zero visibility on the way into the city and we are supposed to get 6 inches today! I'll have to watch the highway reports to see if we can make it home tonight. I'm kicking myself for not packing Layla's medicine, just in case.

I am deflated. I feel like the universe is against us helping Layla to get better.

Layla is scared of car rides. She's finally just OKAY if she's in her carrier on my lap. If she's in her carrier on a seat alone, she's freaking out, screaming, trying to push her head through the holes and escape to get close to us. Obviously we can't let her do anything close to that behaviour with a bulging disc in her neck. She could completely paralyze herself.

So for now she's on my lap while we drive to work and home. I will not even drive home for Christmas because Scott is not coming, and I will not risk driving with her on a seat alone. She'll hurt herself, I know it. If I can, I will catch a ride and have her on my lap.

Scott just got told that in the next couple of weeks he will be transferred back to his downtown office... downtown with no parking. I will have to drop him off at work and then drive Layla and I back across town to my work. I can't do that. I don't know what to do. I am on the verge of tears. He's been at the other office for a year, why does he have to go back NOW? :(

Im so sorry to hear this :(
Is there any way that his boss could reconsider the move to the downtown office? or atleast put it off for a month or two.
:( sending my love xx

Well, he is being contracted out from his main downtown office to the office of another company. The other company doesn't need him anymore so they're sending him back.

I've thought about some options, and we can possibly drop her off at my office, then go drop Scott off, and then come back to my office, but that means leaving our house at least 45 minutes earlier in the morning, and me probably still being late for work :( The other option is to sedate Layla which is something I don't want to do twice a day every day. I just don't know.

I can understand you not wanting to sedate her :( I wouldnt want to do that either.
I think if it were me I would take the option of leaving 45min early... Just remember its not forever. She WILL get better, she is a fighter.

Could you leave her at home while you take Scott to work, then pick her up on your way to your office? Or is that too far out of your way?

Yes, I need to remember that.

I'm worried about leaving her alone in the office too because she'll be here alone when everyone else is showing up and I can't be here to keep her excitement down. And I can't control her yelping or barking.

I just hope things will work out.

We live a half hour out of the city :(

I'm so sorry, Lindsey. I hope something starts to work out for you guys.:(

I was wondering if you could rig a set up where her carrier is on a box or pillows and then put the seatbelt on/thru the carrier so she could see you when you are driving. Buster would get upset in his crate if it was on the seat. When I got him a booster seat where he could see he stopped complaining. I know she can not be in a booster seat as she needs to be protected. There is also a herbal product called Rescue Remedy which helps lower anxiety. You just feed them a few drops or rub it in their ear. I give this to Buster before flights or when we took him in for his surgery. I know you will figure out a way it just seems so overwhelming for you now. You are doing a great job dealing with everything life is tossing at you.

I have tried a lot of things with Layla, including putting something under the carrier. We thought maybe it was because the seat slopes back but when we fixed that it didn't stop her crying either. I used to take her to a holistic vet twice a week and it was TERRIBLE! She was so uncomfortable and scared. I'm just praying Scott can make his time there last until Christmas... when we go back to work in January her crate rest will almost be over. Then I'd feel a little more safe.

Last night Layla slept in her crate. She is not used to that anymore since we've had her in her bed lately and were just able to bring her crate home from my office yesterday. Well, I have been awake since 3:30 this morning because Layla just didn't want to be in there anymore and she wouldn't stop crying! :( I know it means she's feeling better but she needs to stay in there.

I don't think I mentioned this yesterday, but her pain seems to be gone. She can easily turn her head in both directions, and up and down, and she is hating being cooped up! I expressed her in the bathroom at my office yesterday, and I put her down so I could clean up after and she immediately scooted to the door, wanting to scoot back to the desk like usual! But that's not allowed on crate rest so I had to pick her up and carry her. She doesn't understand why she can't just get back to being normal! But it's for her own good.

I knew it would be really hard. They are so independent. I hope you can get some rest this weekend. You've got to be totally exhausted from worry. I hope she continues to get better!:)

I am so glad to hear that she is feeling better. It is so hard to keep them confined when they think they are all better. I hope you all get some rest this weekend.

(((HUGS))) You are the BEST mommy Linz, keep that in mind when things get overwhelming! :) This too shall pass.

See things are looking up, Layla is starting to feel better by the day, yes it's difficult on you and Scott...but remember she is everyones inspiration, including you. Keep up the good work with her...you will be blessed in life, I just know it.

I have some good news guys!

This morning, Layla was at the door in her carrier ready to go, and we were just finishing up packing our lunches for work. All of a sudden we heard a deep WOOF WOOF, and I thought to myself "That dog sounds close!" and then I realized it was LAYLA. She got her bark back after 7 months!!!!!!!!! She always had a deep bark for such a little girl, but since April it has just been a loud yelp. Now it's back!!!

I'm glad Layla found her bark again after so long. I hope she continues to improve.:)

I am so hoping and praying for a Christmas miracle here. I just love this little girl so much and how much of a fighter she is. Keep up the good work Layla. We all <3 you! :)

I am so glad to hear Layla has her power bark back!

After the terribly trying week you had....I am so glad that something great happened for you!

Oh Lindsey I'm so happy about Layla getting better! After I read about her being able to bark, I looked at Annie and told her the good news.....she wagged her tail, growled and said, "grrrrEAT NEWS LAYLA, YIIPPEEEE!!" lol

I'm hoping you are over the flu/cold you had a few days ago and feeling better, with more energy. Things are lots easier when you're well.

xox
Emmy

Thanks! It turns out I wasn't really over my sickness and had to leave work yesterday because I was sick again! Layla and I went to my grandma's house so Scott could work for the rest of the day, and I put her carrier on the bed and we had a good sleep together. She was so comfortable that I woke up and she was rolled right over on her back, snoring with her tongue out! LOL! But I'm feeling much better today!

We got news that Scott is going back to his other office on Monday so we'll have to figure something out with Layla. The good thing is that she's not in pain anymore so I don't think a little movement will hurt her. Maybe we'll try the first day driving from Scott's office to mine with her alone on the seat. I hope she does well because that's the easiest way to do it.

Oh, my! I can just picture her sleeping like that.:p I hope you really are better. I hope you can get things worked out. That is a lot of driving for you, but I know it is worth it to be able to live outside the city. Special hugs for Layla.:)

You really needed that rest at your Grandmother's house. I'm so glad you and Layla got to take a nice nap. I can't believe she was rolled over on her back :) .....and I don't think she would be doing that if she was in pain either. And I hope little Layla does ok driving to Scott's work and back to yours. I'll be saying some prayers and thinking about you both.

So funny when you said what you thought Layla was thinking. "well if this is how it's going to be, I'll just sleep". lol Same thing I've thought about Annie. Sometimes she looks at me like "apparently you want me to sleep all day again!" Last night she wasn't happy with either the crate, or the stroller and I finally (after knowing for sure she didn't need to potty) stopped 'giving in' and just left her in the stroller (the place she usually sleeps and seems to like the most) and stopped talking to her and we both fell asleep. lol

My youngest baby girl Greta, is extremely upset that Annie is getting so much attention. When I am fussing with Annie, I look over and Greta is lying in her cloud bed, peering over at Annie out of the corner of her eye, like she's saying "oh, is she the High Queen?" and rolling her eyes. Greta also pouts! If I try to pick her up right after I've been hugging and kissing Annie, sometimes she jumps up and runs to her crate where I can't touch her!!! These little ones are amazingly smart...and jealous! lol